Toronto Reference Library

The Toronto Reference Library is a public reference library in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the corner of Yonge Street and Asquith Avenue, within the Yorkville neighbourhood of downtown Toronto and is the largest and most visited branch of Toronto Public Library (TPL).

Established in 1909, the Toronto Reference Library initially operated from another building on College Street. In the late-1960s, management of the library was assumed by the Metropolitan Toronto Library Board. Believing the space in the original structure to be inadequate, Raymond Moriyama was tasked to find a new site, and was later commissioned by the board to design a new building for the site. The new building was opened to the public in 1977 as the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library, and the library continued to operate under that name until 1998, when it reverted to its original name. The building underwent renovations and expansion from 2009 to 2014.

The library is the largest public reference library in Canada with an extensive collection of books, manuscripts, microfilm, and other items. Most items in its collection are designated for reference-use only; the public is unable to borrow these items for use outside the library. In addition to providing access to its collection, the library also hosts a number of public reading events, as well as provide technical access and services to the public.

The earliest reference library opened in Toronto was the York Mechanics' Institute, opened to the public in 1830. Acting as a reference library and public resource, Mechanics' Institutes throughout the city served as predecessors to Toronto Public Library. TPL was established in 1884 within a former Mechanics' Institute building. During the late-19th century, TPL absorbed a number of Mechanics' Institutes Toronto, reorganizing them into public libraries.

On 8 September 1909, TPL officially opened the Toronto Reference Library at a building on the northwest corner of College and St. George streets. The Beaux-Arts styled building was designed by Wickson & Gregg and Alfred H. Chapman. The building was the largest Carnegie-funded library built in Ontario. When the reference library first opened, its collection contained 97,788 books. In addition to the reference library, a TPL branch with a circulating collection was completed in the basement of the building in 1930, and was opened on 21 April.

In 1967, the Metropolitan Toronto Library Board was established by the Metropolitan Toronto government in order to bring together the resources and collections of the central libraries and library systems within Metro Toronto; including the Toronto Reference Library. By 1968, the board had decided to build a replacement building for the Toronto Reference Library, with spacing becoming an issue in the original 1909 building. Additionally, the board viewed the original building was situated far too west for it to properly serve as a library for the metropolitan region. In 1971, Raymond Moriyama was commissioned by the library board to perform a site study for a replacement building; with the board specifying the location had to be between St. Clair Avenue and Queen Street, and near a Toronto subway station. Moriyama eventually choose a location on Asquith and Yonge Street, partly due to its proximity to Bloor–Yonge station. In 1972, the library board had approved the purchase of the site for C$7 million, and allocated a further C$23 million to construct a new building.

The initial design presented by Moriyama was similar in design to the current building, although the original designs had the southern and western façade of the structure clad in reflective glass that became transparent at night; with concrete used on its other sides. A direct access point that connected the library's main lobby to Bloor-Yonge subway station was planned although it was not incorporated in the final design. Although the design was initially supported by the library board and the Metro Toronto government, the design faced opposition from the municipal government of Toronto; with the overuse of glass in the midst of the 1970s energy crisis being questioned, concerns that the structure would be too imposing in contrast to the rest of the neighbourhood, and budgetary concerns resulted in the initial design to be rejected in December 1973. After several months of consultation with the local government, revised designs were approved in April 1974; which slightly reduced the size and height of the building, reduced its massing, and changed its cladding to brick.

Construction for the new building began in 1974, with the new building being opened to the public on Asquith Avenue and Yonge Street on 2 November 1977. The former reference library building was closed in 1977, and is presently used as the University of Toronto's Koffler Student Centre.